10 Reasons Why Philadelphia Will Be Hotter Than Ever In 2017

Philadelphia is already one of the cities with the best bike paths in the U.S. It's known as a great place to celebrate Fourth of July (after all, it's nickname is America's birthplace) and spring flowers displays. The city of brotherly love is also home to one of the must-visit haunted attractions in America – Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary. But next year looks to be another blockbuster year for Philadelphia, giving people plenty of new reasons to visit and explore the raved-about city.

This one will please history lovers and outdoor fans. The new year brings the opening of the new Bartram's Mile, a 1.1-mile addition to Schuylkill Banks recreational trail. The 15-foot-wide multi-use path will extend along the western bank of the Schuylkill River, through the grounds of historic Bartram's Garden, frequented by Washington, Jefferson and other boldface names from history. schuylkillbanks.org

The Museum of the American Revolution opens its doors this spring in the Historic Philadelphia district, just steps from Independence Hall, and in the heart of a city that served as the headquarters for the Revolution. Through immersive exhibitions and priceless artifacts, the museum traces the evolution of the colonies from the earliest days of unrest through a legendary war and the improbable victory that led to a new nation. amrevmuseum.org

Score one for Philadelphia, landing the 82^nd NFL Draft for the first time in more than 50 years. During three days of festivities—all taking place outdoors—fans can enjoy interactive experiences, get autographs from current and former players, taking pictures with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and much more. The Penn Relays, the oldest collegiate track meet in the nation, also take place that weekend at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field.

Block by block, LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center will unlock imaginations as wannabe builders dive into an interactive world of hands-on play. Iconic Philadelphia landmarks created from millions of LEGO bricks in MiniLand, Play Zones with an almost unlimited supply of LEGO bricks, a kid-friendly ride and a 4D cinema will keep children and parents entertained for hours at this indoor playground. legolanddiscoverycenter.com

LOVE Park, which got some love of its own in the form of a major makeover, is getting ready to show off its new look. Redesigned sloping lawns, colorful new flower beds and a large central fountain are the backdrops to Robert Indiana's famous LOVE sculpture, offering stellar sightlines of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for photo ops. The iconic round visitors center will also sport a new look and will offer food and beverage service. phila.gov

Not since 1973 has an exhibition so deeply explored Andrew Wyeth's work. That changes this summer when the Brandywine River Museum of Art celebrates the 100^th anniversary of his birth with Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect, featuring more than 100 of the artist's works on canvas and paper. brandywine.org

After delighting crowds for more than 85 years, Longwood Gardens' fountains are undergoing a $90 million makeover. Enhanced by 21^st-century technology, dramatic new lighting and a variety of newly choreographed fountain shows featuring jets that shoot more than 175 feet in the air will elicit ooohs and aahhhs. New seating areas, a grotto, trestle bridge and landscaped paths offer guests lots of photo-worthy scenes. longwoodgardens.org

The city's musical profile hits a high note when Opera Philadelphia introduces O17, a new opera festival that will mark the start of the company's season. O17 will thrill audiences with some of the genre's glittering stars featured in more than 25 performances, including three world premieres, the exclusive East Coast appearance of an internationally renowned production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, commissioned works and must-see, one-time-only performances. operaphila.org

What makes a monument in the 21^st century? Monument Lab will attempt to answer this question for Philadelphia with an eight-week city-wide public art and history exhibition, co-produced by Mural Arts Philadelphia and curators Paul M. Farber, A. Will Brown and Ken Lum. Monument Lab is a series of temporary installations by local and international artists, accompanied by interactive pop-up laboratories for creative conversations. muralarts.org

Run through the City of Brotherly Love and one of the most historic places in the country. The course is nice and flat and the weather is usually very nice. The best runners in the world don't miss this event. This half-marathon should definitely be on avid joggers' bucket lists. The next race is Sept. 16-17, 2017.